Abstract
Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a common systemic vasculitis in children. High-mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1) is an inflammatory cytokine involved in many autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to examine the expression of HMGB1 in HSP. Fifty-six children with HSP (HSP group) and 32 healthy children (Control group) were enrolled, and their clinic data were collected. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect mRNA levels of HMGB1, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, receptor of advanced glycation end products (RAGE), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum levels of HMGB1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The mRNA levels of HMGB1, TLR2, TLR4, and NF-κB in PBMCs were upregulated in HSP group with kidney injury compared with control group without kidney injury (P < 0.05). The serum levels of HMGB1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in HSP group with kidney injury were significantly higher than in control group without kidney injury (P < 0.05). There was correlation between serum HMGB1 and TLR2, TLR4, NF-κB, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in HSP group (P < 0.05), and there was correlation between NF-κB and TLR2 and between NF-κB and TLR4 (P < 0.05). HMGB1 is upregulated in children with HSP and correlated with high serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines.
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